Today I want to try to help you understand the authority you have as a believer in Jesus Christ. He has given us His very great and precious promises (2 Pet 1:4), but many times we live as though He had not.
Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus. Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15). He preached that we must repent and believe.
Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
Ask for Anything, Whatever You Wish
Did He not promise us, "You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it"? (Joh 14:14). Yes, He did, so take Him at His Word. God is not a man that He should lie. He promised that we may ask Him for anything in His name, and He will do it!
He also promised us, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." (Joh 15:7). That means that as long as you remain in Him and His Words remain in you, you may ask Him whatever you wish, and it will be done for you, just as He promised!
In the same passage, He promised, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you." (Joh 15:16). That means that to you who are chosen and appointed by Jesus to go and bear fruit, the Father will give you whatever you ask in Jesus' name.
He also promised us, "In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." (Joh 16:23-24)
On another occasion, He promised that everyone who asks receives (Mt 7:8; cf. Lk 11:10). God is no respecter of persons. He will do this for every one of His children in Christ, who is walking in the light, and who asks. But you must ask.
These promises apply to whatever you desire. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart (Ps 37:4). The key is that you delight yourself in the Lord. When He has become your One delight, and pleasing Him is your chief aim, then all your desires will be found in Him, and He will give them to you.
Scripture also says, "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless." (Ps 84:11). That means that as long as your walk with the Lord God is blameless, He will not withhold anything good from you.
Are you beginning to see how complete and all-encompassing this promise is? Nothing good and perfect is left out of it.
Power and Authority to Cure Diseases and Drive Out All Demons
Do you realize that you have been given power and authority over all demons, including the devil himself, and to heal every kind of disease?
"When Jesus had called the Twelve together, He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick." (Luk 9:1-2)
Notice that He gave them both the miraculous power (Gr. dunamis) and the authority (Gr., exousia), or dominion, to drive out all demons, including satan. We must apply this to our lives, too, and operate in that same power and authority of the Lord Jesus.
"He called His twelve disciples to Him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness." (Mat 10:1)
Notice that He gave them authority to heal every disease and sickness, which excludes not one single disease or sickness.
Jesus promised, "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." (Mar 16:17-18)
He said that if you believe in Him, then signs would follow you, which include driving out demons, speaking in new tongues, and healing the sick through the laying on of hands. If you are not operating in that, then you are not walking in the power and authority that has been given to you in Christ.
Speak to Mountains and Storms
Are you encountering any mountains or storms -- obstacles that stand in the way of your service to the King? Here's another promise for you to claim:
"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mar 11:22-24)
That means you must have faith in God. The amount of faith is not important, even if it is as small as a mustard seed. The key is that there be absolutely no doubt in your heart. Speak to your mountain, and as you do, believe that what you say will happen. That's all you have to do, and it will be done. This applies to whatever you ask for in prayer.
And there are many other promises like that. Our part is to claim them and put them into operation through prayer and speaking to our situations.
Closing Words
In closing, I want you to know without a doubt, that if you remain in Christ, and His Words remain in you, being actively practiced, then anything good you see in God's Word that you want, you can have it. Just have faith in God, believe and do not doubt, ask the Father for it in the name of Jesus, and it will be yours for the Lord's service. If there is any obstacle in your way to receiving whatever that is, then speak to the obstacle and command it to be removed in the name of Jesus, and it will be done for you. We must remember all things are done in His timing, too. Now go put this into practice and experience the abundant life that Jesus promised, when He said:
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (Joh 10:10)
Attribution Notice: Image of "A Child's Prayer" painting copyright Danny Hahlhohm, all rights reserved, used by permission. To view his art, please visit www.jesusart.me. All Scripture taken from The Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, used by permission.
Author's note: If you enjoyed this post, please also see the following: Being Blessable, The Power of Two or Three, The Blessing of Abraham, Speak to the Storm, Supernatural Power for All Disciples, and All Things Handed Over to Jesus Christ, Also see What's Wrong with the Prosperity Gospel? You may find the Main Directory for this blog at Home, and you may also access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master."
Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus. Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15). He preached that we must repent and believe.
Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
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Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International. He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.
